Guinea girl roams the world, returns to her roots

by Betty Wrenn Day - Posted on Jan 08, 2014 - 11:49 AM

Marcia Mickle has two kitchens in which she can prepare and cook her famous Guinea dishes. One is available when she and her husband are living aboard their 42-foot cruiser “Fiddler’s Green” and the other when they are residing in their cottage several hundred yards back from the water’s edge. Photos by Betty Wrenn Day

“I’m a Guinea girl who loves sushi,” says Marcia Mickle as she speaks about why she and her husband, David, returned to her native home about four years ago—after leaving to make her way in the world at the age of 18.

“I was born in Severn and grew up here. I couldn’t have had a happier childhood. I just love it here. When Dave and I were married Dad gave us this place.”

Marcia’s career brought her many rewards. She became a design engineer, spent seven years in the Army serving in military intelligence and learning to speak and write Korean. Even in retirement she remains active in her community.

The Mickles now have a lifestyle that covers almost two worlds. They live on their boat (Fiddler’s Green, a 42-ft. cruiser) which is moored on their property on Belvin Creek; and they also live in what they call their cottage which overlooks the waters near and far. In both locations cooking arrangements are shared by the two of them who can cook and work together in the same kitchen at the same time.

“I do what we call the Guinea cooking,” Marcia explains, “but Dave you know is a professional chef. He spent 22 years in the Navy where he prepared food for 6,000 people four times a day. As a second job when on leave, he cooked for Nick’s Seafood Pavilion in Yorktown. That’s where we met. I was taking on a second job as a waitress. I had three children to raise and Dave had two. So when it comes to special dishes, it’s Dave’s cooking.”